Notes on a Scandal

On Tuesday, February 6, 2007, I went to see the film Notes on a Scandal, featuring Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett.

The story is about a manipulative teacher (Dench), who is rumoured to be lesbian (you don't really find out, there are hints about it though), who basically has a hold on the art teacher (Blanchett), because Dench's character found out about an affair that Blanchett's character was having with a fifteen year old boy.

Under the guise of a friendship, Dench's character forms a friendship with Blanchett's character, and under the guise of this friendship, we actually see her calculate and scheme to try to win over Balnchett. However, things get out of hand, and the whole town ends up being in turmoil, since the big secret gets blown up.

This movie strikes a chord with me. First of all, it's a teacher movie, and I am a teacher (to be). And I know that I'm not supposed to have sex with students, but my question is, why do some people fall into temptation?

Secondly, Judi Dench's character writes in her diaries... It's things that she keeps to herself. If other people find out about what she writes, it's their own bloody fault, because you're not supposed to read other peoples' diaries... She didn't say, "Oh, please come and read my diaries, where I pour out my thoughts and negative energy..." Sort of like stumbling across someone's blog, and then taking action against him/her for saying things against you... It's your fault for stumbling across it, the person didn't say, "Oh, please come see my blog and see what I really think about certain things."

The only thing disturbing about this film is that I saw Judi Dench semi-naked in the tub. Don't get me wrong, I love her as an actress, but I really don't want to see her naked.